Tugboats line the docks at the Waterford Harbor during the Tugboat Roundup this weekend. The Roundup continues today until 5 p.m. (Photo by Mike McMahon/The Record)

WATERFORD -- Walter Hughes, an 84-year-old from Port Jervis, grew up on tugboats and despite his heroic service as a military paratrooper, is still proud to call the open water home.

Hughes was one of the many speakers on the Lehigh Valley Waterfront Museum during the 11th annual Waterford Tugboat Roundup and focused on his love for the vessels and the books which he wrote about his life on the water.

Roughly 32 tugboats were docked along the Erie Canal for the event as thousands of residents from around the Capital District walked the waterfront to examine the historic boats, make purchases from a variety of vendors, and simply spend a nice day outside with their families.

Hughes was a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division during World War II and participated in Operation Market-Garden, the Allied attempt to break through German lines and seize several bridges in the Netherlands which was the subject of the book "A Bridge Too Far," which later became a popular film.

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However, after first becoming a deckhand at the age of 12 in 1937 he spent most of his life on tugboats, and when he joined the military, he chose to enlist in the Army rather than the Navy so that he could stay with the boats he enjoyed so much.

"I had a good life on the tugboats," said Hughes as he told his story to a crowd of eager listeners Saturday after being invited back to the event for a second time. "I have a lot of friends in this industry and with this tugboat festival, I'm making a lot more."

Other speakers throughout the day included author Jessica DuLong and Don Sutherland, who gave a brief presentation on the history of tugboats going back to the 1850s.

Live music was performed throughout the day from aboard the Grand Erie and a grand display by Alonzo's Fireworks of Mechanicville was set off from a barge in the middle of the canal around 8:30 p.m.

John Callaghan, a state Museum employee who helped launch the roundup in 1999 after attending similar events in New York City while with the Coast Guard, said he and other organizers were proud to feature the Lois McClure, a full-scale schooner replica of an 1862 ship that once traveled the canals, at the roundup this year.

"We've got some new pleasure and mini tugs this year that haven't been here before and then we have just a lot of old friends that are back," said Callaghan.

The purpose of the annual event is to reinforce the town's heritage as a maritime community which was heavily supported by the canal as well as tugboats themselves.

"Waterford has always been a tugboat town, so this is our tribute to our own heritage and it's also a lot of fun," said Callaghan. "Kids of all ages come out and they love it. I see a lot of 80 year old kids walking around today."

Jeannie Straussman of Albany stopped at the event with her husband Jeff after spending the morning at the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market and planned to attend a jazz festival in Albany later in the afternoon.

"It's a day on the Hudson," said Straussman, who was impressed by the sheer number of tugboats at the roundup. "The tugboats are beautiful and are just so well-maintained. And they're all so unique --each one is very different."

The event will continue today with vendors, exhibits, and family activities from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"The volunteers at the (Harbor) Visitors Center make it happen, the tugboat crews make it happen, and it's just a great weekend," Callaghan.